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Author
Topic: How much you guys pay for your Atripla? (Read 45270 times)

The cost of Atripla I am taking costs $2200 for one month. I pay $50 out of this amount and the remaining is covered by my Insurance. This is too expensive to cover. But I saw in my computer this cost is like $240 from Canadian pharmacy. I got there number and call why it is this much cheaper from what I am paying in US. The person who picks up the phone told me that it is a Generic Artipla which we are selling in cheapest price. When I ask again the fact that the medicine is generic means should it be this much cheaper? She answered me that of course the ingredients of these two brands of tablet are the same except some are not present in the generic brand. And she add up that I can check with my doctor. So, do you guys know that this is true? If in case, I lose my work who pays me for my insurance to pay for Atripla, can I resort to this company to get my Atripla? Do these two brands of medicine fulfill the same purpose equally? If not how are they different? And which one of these is good

You can buy generic drugs that replicate Atripla - they are made in India. You can search this forum to read more threads about that.

For the time being you have your branded drugs and they cost less than generic drugs, to you.Also, figure out a way, if possible, to start building a little reserve - maybe filling prescriptions as soon as they let you if this leads to extra pills. Seems like you might be nervous about losing access to medicine and lord knows we all fear that (if we are taking medicine). A reserve is always important in a tight transition period. Many countries have public assistance to help citizens have access to HAART. That is not to say it always goes smoothly without interruption.

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ďFrom each, according to his ability; to each, according to his needĒ 1875 K Marx

Mine runs $1,825 a month w/ insurance paying $1,801 (my co-pay is $20) -- of course, I 'm sure the actual cost to the insurance company is a little lower as they negotiate a rate. I work for a public hospital system and know some of the inner workings and they typically negotiate a rate that is 35% below "retail" charge. I would have to hope that if I every lost my insurance thru work (i.e. layoff, termination, etc) that I would be able to get on ADAP here. I also have my VA benefits to fall back on - but both would involve some paperwork and time to get into.

As Mecch mentioned, you can find more information on generic Atripla by searching here. The medication is called "Viraday" and there have been several threads about it. Basically, it is produced by a reputable company in India (Cipla) and there are people who do take it and are doing well. It is basically the same ingredients as Atripla.

There are probably other options for accessing meds if you lose your insurance, such as ADAP. But many states' ADAPs are not doing well and have waiting lists etc so I think it is good peace of mind to know that in a pinch it would be an option to order Viraday online since it is so much cheaper than Atripla.

If you did lose your job and insurance you should make every effort to keep it through COBRA (which I believe is currently still subsidized for those who lose their jobs). It's important, given or F***** up health care system in the US, that there not be any interruption in coverage.

I think if you search "Viraday" and also "generic Atripla" you'll find lots of good information, including posts from people who have ordered it and tried it.

For your current co-pay, there's also an Atripla co-pay assistance program that covers co-pays "greater than $50." according to the link below. I would contact them and see if that includes $50. or if they mean, literally "greater than" $50. It could save you your current co-pay, which wouldn't be too shabby.

How much time do you think one need to get into the process of ADAP, on the average? I need this info if in case I have to go through. One month, two or three or more. You may also need some money to buy your med on your own while you are in the process as I think time interruption would have a negative effect on the workings of the med to your body. Doctors say that one should not stop taking the med even for a very short period of time.

Well, every state is different and probably every area of each state. Our ADAP is through the Health Department (which is run by both the County and the State). When my Case Manager referred me initially (before I got reemployed and got insurance through my job) the wait to get an appointment with them was about 4 weeks. I am not sure what would have happened after the appointment in regards to then getting my script filled (whether it would have been immediate access or whether there would have been a lag in order to verify info provided in financial assessment/intake appointment). I know that when they heard that my levels were fairly high (473) they said that it wasn't an emergency case, so I'm figuring that if it was an emergency case (however, that might be defined) my appointment date would have been moved up. Hope this helps.

How much time do you think one need to get into the process of ADAP, on the average? I need this info if in case I have to go through. One month, two or three or more. You may also need some money to buy your med on your own while you are in the process as I think time interruption would have a negative effect on the workings of the med to your body. Doctors say that one should not stop taking the med even for a very short period of time.

Thanks,

I know that some states ADAPs (such as AZ) offer a one month "emergency" supply while the application process is happening but after that one month they will not supply it if the application is still pending. Some states ADAPs also require that the applicant first apply for the state's Medicaid to make sure they are not eligible for that first, before even being considered for ADAP (they want to make sure they are the last resort).

As far as not skipping doses, you're right, that's important. That's why I have tried to build up an emergency supply by renewing my Rx as early as possible every month. When I first started meds my numbers were still fine so I filled the first Rx and did not take it for a whole month so I would have that as extra if I ever run into trouble.

Wow - that was a good idea about filling the first script but holding out on it for a minute to have that emergency back up -- why didn't i think of that (LOL). Now, that I've started taking it I can't really build up that reserve. I think I am going to switch over to mail order through my insurance company - since it is an eligible drug and get a 3-month supply all at once (that also lowers my co-pay slightly).

I'm thinking (which BTW is a dangerous thing) that once I see how my second set of labs are doing on March 1 since being on the Atripla -- I can maybe take 1 day off a week to hoard that pill and build up an emergency supply --- thoughts?

Wow - that was a good idea about filling the first script but holding out on it for a minute to have that emergency back up -- why didn't i think of that (LOL). Now, that I've started taking it I can't really build up that reserve. I think I am going to switch over to mail order through my insurance company - since it is an eligible drug and get a 3-month supply all at once (that also lowers my co-pay slightly).

Whether it's monthly or 3-month supply most insurers let you fill it earlier than the actual deadline. I know Bocker has mentioned he does this with his 3-month supply. If you are able to do it enough times before you know it, you have extra. I would ask them when is the earliest that a Rx will go through.

Here in spain it is free on the national health system but on the bottle is says 750 euros pvp reccomended price approximately thats for 1 months supply of atripla 30 pills im not sure but i think that is around 600 usd. What strikes me as strange is that with the meds costing that much there is zero security at the hospital. I just go in a small office with no appointment on a quiet corridor on the second floor and theres a nuse sat behind the desk with about at least 500 bottles of various meds on the shelves behind her . I close the door give her my presciption and she puts me a couple of bottles in a sealed brown envelope and of i go .

I'm thinking (which BTW is a dangerous thing) that once I see how my second set of labs are doing on March 1 since being on the Atripla -- I can maybe take 1 day off a week to hoard that pill and build up an emergency supply --- thoughts?

This would be translating a future risk of not being able to be adherent into actual current nonadherence. Maybe it would be better to investigate whether you can reorder early first to try to mitigate the future risks and deal with any actual future supply problems if they really happen (and you are still alive and on ATRIPLA)

if leatherman hadn't been hoarding a few pills here and there (though better than 97% adherent, he never takes meds on important days, like going to the amusement park , so he doesn't run the risk of puking that day ), then leatherman would have gone 2, if not 3 months, with NO meds at all when he moved from OH to SC and had an troublesome time getting the social services of those states to switch over. (there's more about this sort of topic in the Living in America - how do you cope? thread)

Thanks for the feedback -- I think I am going to go the route of seeing about getting the supply early and the mail order. Down here the biggest concern (in addition to ever losing insurance coverage of course) is the hurricanes. When we got hit by Wilma a few years back some of the stores/pharmacies didn't open for 4 or 5 days. With hurricane season again approaching (and we haven't had a major hurricane since Wilma) it is a good idea to make sure that I have enough of an emergency stash of the good stuff (aka Atripla) on hand

BTW Leatherman and everyone else who contributed to the Living In America: How Do You Cope thread - that was a great thread to read -- if I can play "Roger Ebert" on thread development, it was a "Thumbs Up." It should be part of Thread Building and Responding 101 --- (didn't mean to go off topic here, but it really was very enlightening and educational to read while fulfilling the purpose of this site).

Back onto topic -- now you have me thinking about taking a mixed approach -- doing the advance refill / mail order and maybe a 2 pill a month stash -- depending on lab numbers, of course.

I'm thinking (which BTW is a dangerous thing) that once I see how my second set of labs are doing on March 1 since being on the Atripla -- I can maybe take 1 day off a week to hoard that pill and build up an emergency supply --- thoughts?

The FOTO study ("Five On, Two Off") found that some people were able to take Atripla five days on and two days off. I would only try it after being undetectable for at least 6 months, maybe for one full year and with >500 CD4s. I'm not on Atripla but if I were I'd consider it since it means not only less cost but also less toxicity.

How much time do you think one need to get into the process of ADAP, on the average? I need this info if in case I have to go through. One month, two or three or more. You may also need some money to buy your med on your own while you are in the process as I think time interruption would have a negative effect on the workings of the med to your body. Doctors say that one should not stop taking the med even for a very short period of time.

Thanks,

When I went on ADAP in New York you didn't even need to go through a case manager. I just downloaded the form on the internet, filled it out, and faxed it to the Dept of Health in Albany. I recall it getting processed pretty fast. Of course, if one procrastinate until the last minute then you're playing with fire.

When I moved to Pennsylvania it would have been processed quickly but the case manager coordinating it had a very extreme family emergency (husband was killed by a city bus rolling over him) and my paperwork got lost somewhere in her office. They instantly pushed through a "emergency form" for me though and expedited everything.

The bottom line though for anyone is that if you think you might be on the verge of a layoff get your ducks in row -- get the ADAP application and have it filed out, and know the process in your individual state because it can vary. It's in most people's interest to at least sit down with a case manager so that you have someone to contact if that happens.

You should have seen my total drug bills the couple of years I had to take Fuzeon. I get 12 prescriptions filled monthly. If I had to pay co-pays I'd need a Wall Street job and I'd still live in a shack.

"I have tried hard--but life is difficult, and I am a very useless person. I can hardly be said to have an independent existence. I was just a screw or a cog in the great machine I called life, and when I dropped out of it I found I was of no use anywhere else."

My Isentress is billed the same way. My copay for Isentress is $186 a month, which is not as bad as Atripla, but still takes a nice chunk out of my income.

HUGS,

Mark

If you have private insurance and your out-of-pocket cost for ISENTRESS is over $30, (patients are responsible for paying the first $30 out-of-pocket cost) you may be eligible to receive a savings coupon for ISENTRESS. The coupon provides savings towards your out-of-pocket cost over $30 up to a maximum of $400 per prescription (regardless of the number of tablets supplied on the prescription) of ISENTRESS.

What crack was I smokin' I was under the impression that a patent was only for 10 years on drugs? That's 15. Well balls.

Yup. Let's see... 12 moths X 11 years X $1800 (and we know that the price will go up as time goes by) = $237,600. Guess I gotta keep my job and health insurance or win the lotto (or move to India where the total expenses will be significantly reduced).

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"I have tried hard--but life is difficult, and I am a very useless person. I can hardly be said to have an independent existence. I was just a screw or a cog in the great machine I called life, and when I dropped out of it I found I was of no use anywhere else."

If you have private insurance and your out-of-pocket cost for ISENTRESS is over $30, (patients are responsible for paying the first $30 out-of-pocket cost) you may be eligible to receive a savings coupon for ISENTRESS. The coupon provides savings towards your out-of-pocket cost over $30 up to a maximum of $400 per prescription (regardless of the number of tablets supplied on the prescription) of ISENTRESS.

You guys are much worried about your having of Atripla in timely and consistently manner. Yea it is worrisome, because too much expense is involved. Do you think the Obama's health care plan would do a lot in having this med available to us freely and hence we need to support the Obama?

You guys are much worried about your having of Atripla in timely and consistently manner. Yea it is worrisome, because too much expense is involved.

it's much more worrisome to adhere to your meds than the money issue though. IF you do not strictly adhere to taking HIV meds daily, the amount of med in your body can get so low the virus can mutate against the med. The med is then no longer effective and you will have to change to another med. In the past when there were fewer meds, that meant there might not be any med you could switch to and untreated HIV is not good at all. Even though there are more meds available today, if your virus mutates in a certain way because you are non-adherent, whole classes of drugs may become noneffective.

It's a very dangerous game to NOT take your meds in a timely and consistent manner - and that has nothing to do with the money end of the issue.

As to changing American health care, I doubt anyone in their right mind would say that the current system is not flawed; therefore some sort of "fix" must be done, regardless of how much the Republican party says no.

Surely the patents on the three drugs in Atripla will expire faster than the patent for Atripla itself. Besides the reduced copays, I don't see the grand advantage of Atripla's one horse pill. If anything, the "one pill a day meme" didn't help the public's education about HIV treatment.

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ďFrom each, according to his ability; to each, according to his needĒ 1875 K Marx

Besides the reduced copays, I don't see the grand advantage of Atripla's one horse pill. If anything, the "one pill a day meme" didn't help the public's education about HIV treatment.

I totally agree with your last comment however, the big advantage is ease in adherence and treatment

here in my area of SC, adherence is the greatest issue with treating HIV (partially because of poverty issues). Too often, because we (the members in these forums) are a little better off with internet access etc, we forget the large amount of HIV+ people who barely have stable housing, or food, and are afflicted with addiction problems, and/or mental and emotions problems. For those people, one pill a day is about the only way to begin to ensure their adherence.

It's also a much easier treatment for a doctor to prescribe across all classes of people. There are no tricky combos to track, just one pill/one prescription . . . and onto the next patient.

...She answered me that of course the ingredients of these two brands of tablet are the same except some are not present in the generic brand. And she add up that I can check with my doctor. So, do you guys know that this is true? If in case, I lose my work who pays me for my insurance to pay for Atripla, can I resort to this pharmacy to get my Atripla? Do these two brands of medicine fulfill the same purpose equally? If not how are they different? And which one of these is good

You guys didn't answer my question above. My Question is whether all the brands of Atripla are the same despite their difference in prices??? Please let me know.

You guys didn't answer my question above. My Question is whether all the brands of Atripla are the same despite their difference in prices??? Please let me know.

Yes, the ingredients in Viraday are the same as those in Atripla. I'm not sure what you mean by "all the brands of Atripla," the only one that I'm familiar with is Viraday. It's produced by Cipla, a reputable pharmaceutical company in India and it can be purchased online for a lot less money than Atripla.

Thank you Inchlingblue. By "all brands of Atripla" I wanted to mean all the medicines which are at the market and sold from a price range of $150 to that of $2,200. Some of the Atriplas cost some 15 to 16 times expensive than the others. I mean I am under the impression that some of these cheap Atriplas may not be genuine Atriplas. The price has to tell you something. Of course there could be some difference in their price because of marketing and transportation involved. But I am thinking that it should not be such a big difference. So, I might be wrong but are you telling me that all the medicines known with name Atripla have the same medical effect on our body???

Thank you Inchlingblue. By "all brands of Atripla" I wanted to mean all the medicines which are at the market and sold from a price range of $150 to that of $2,200. Some of the Atriplas cost some 15 to 16 times expensive than the others. I mean I am under the impression that some of these cheap Atriplas may not be genuine Atriplas. The price has to tell you something. Of course there could be some difference in their price because of marketing and transportation involved. But I am thinking that it should not be such a big difference. So, I might be wrong but are you telling me that all the medicines known with name Atripla have the same medical effect on our body???

Atripla is a name brand drug, not generic. It's made up of three different medications: efavirenz 600 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [DF] 300 mg.

Anything with the name brand "Atripla" is protected by patent laws for up to 15 years. This allows the drug companies that own the patent (Bristol Myers Squibb and Gilead Sciences) to price the drug rather expensively (approx. $2000. for a 30 day supply).

The only "cheap Atripla" that I know of is called Viraday, this is probably what you're seeing priced at $150. to $400. It is the same thing as Atripla, with the same three medications: efavirenz 600 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [DF] 300 mg, but it's produced generically by a company in India called Cipla.

Atripla = name brandViraday = generic version

Cipla produces Viraday and they are considered a reputable company. There are people, including some in these forums, who have tried it and have said it worked for them.

I personally have not taken Atripla nor Viraday but if I were on Atripla and lost my health insurance and could not get ADAP I would have no hesitation taking Viraday.

If there are other "cheap Atriplas" out there I would not take them, I would only consider taking Viraday if necessary.

The only "cheap Atripla" that I know of is called Viraday, this is probably what you're seeing priced at $150. to $400. It is the same thing as Atripla, with the same three medications: efavirenz 600 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [DF] 300 mg, but it's produced generically by a company in India called Cipla.

If there are other "cheap Atriplas" out there I would not take them, I would only consider taking Viraday if necessary.

Okay, that is nice. According to you "Atripla = Virday". Cool. I might consider taking this medication after having consulted my doctor. No one should be worried about the price so long as the benefit is the same. The extra cost we are paying for Atripla doesn't justify the additional benefit associated with it. By the way can you please provide me the web site or tell me how I can order Virday?? Thank you in advance.

Okay, that is nice. According to you "Atripla = Virday". Cool. I might consider taking this medication after having consulted my doctor. No one should be worried about the price so long as the benefit is the same. The extra cost we are paying for Atripla doesn't justify the additional benefit associated with it. By the way can you please provide me the web site or tell me how I can order Virday?? Thank you in advance.

Check out the links below. You can also get more information by looking at previous threads on here if you go to the Search function and search for Viraday. Some people on these forums have tried Viraday.

I have been there done that when it comes to Viraday. Unfortunately at the end of last year I had issues with my ADAP Atripla coverage. I essentially lost it for almost 2 months. Scared to death, and not wanting to run out of meds I started searching for info on Viraday as soon as I knew I was gonna be in a bind. I ordered it through some online store from overseas for $160. A risk I know, but desperate times called for desperate measures. All my reasearch indicated it was the generic equivalent to Atripla. It took about 10 days to get it and it arrived just in time as I was down to just a few Atripla pills. I'm glad I ordered it as I needed the entire 30 day supply before I got my coverage straightened out again. As far as I can tell it was just like taking Atripla, and I relied on it for a month.

I have been there done that when it comes to Viraday. Unfortunately at the end of last year I had issues with my ADAP Atripla coverage. I essentially lost it for almost 2 months. Scared to death, and not wanting to run out of meds I started searching for info on Viraday as soon as I knew I was gonna be in a bind.

My CD now is around 400. It is going up from around 100. Thanks to this magic drug. Yea now I'm thinking it is worrisome to go out of medicine. I am keeping extra emergency cash like $5000.00 in my bank. This cash might be used for up to only two months Atripla supply. But what if I fell on my coverage for an extended period of time. So, how long can I stay off this med if in case I lose my coverage? You said you lost your coverage for 2 months. Does this two month stay off the med impact your health? In what way it impacted you? Does it erodes your CD count dramatically? Please give me some info.